Pressure-induced polymerization of carbon monoxide: disproportionation and synthesis of an energetic lactonic polymer

Journal Article · Tue Oct 04 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Chemistry of Materials

OSTI ID:884767

Evans, W J; Lipp, M J; Yoo, C; Herberg, J L; Maxwell, R S; Nicol, M F

We have studied pressure-induced chemical reactions in carbon monoxide using both a diamond-anvil cell and a modified large volume press. Our spectroscopic data reveal that carbon monoxide disproportionates into molecular CO{sub 2} and a solid lactone-type polymer; photochemically above 3.2 GPa, thermochemically above 5 GPa at 300K, or at 3 GPa and {approx}2000K as achieved by laser heating. The solid product can be recovered at ambient conditions with a high degree of conversion, measured to be up to 95% of the original CO. Its fundamental chemical structure includes {beta}-lactone and conjugated C=C, which can be considered a severely modified polymeric carbon suboxide with open ladders and smaller five-membered rings. The polymer is metastable at ambient conditions, spontaneously liberating CO{sub 2} gases exothermically. We find that the recovered polymer has a high energy density, 1-8 KJ/g, and is very combustible. We estimate the density of recovered CO polymer to be at least 1.65 g/cm cm{sup 3}.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 884767
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JRNL-215950
• Journal Information: Chemistry of Materials, Journal Name: Chemistry of Materials Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 18; ISSN CMATEX; ISSN 0897-4756
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CARBON
CARBON MONOXIDE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY DENSITY
GASES
HEATING
LASERS
OXIDATION
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
REDUCTION
SYNTHESIS